Edger Resurfacing Machine

ABSTRACT

An edger machine for treating a floor and other surfaces has a housing with a motor and a deck. The motor has a drive shaft extending into an upper deck section of the deck. A pulley is positioned forward of the drive shaft, and a drive belt connects the drive shaft to the pulley. The pulley is constructed to mount a resurfacing disc in a lower deck section of the deck. A pair of guide wheels is mounted on an upper surface of the lower deck section adjacent the upper deck section. The guide wheels are rotatable about a vertical axis and positioned such that the wheels can roll against a vertical surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of this invention relates to edger resurfacing machines, for example, floor edger machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Floors and other planar surfaces have long been treated, prepared, polished and cleaned. Concrete floors are common today in large, medium and small retail stores, manufacturing and production facilities, warehouses, automotive shops and service centers, shopping centers, sidewalks, garages, commercial buildings and residential basements. The strength of concrete provides the durability and rigidity required in these environments. However, the exterior surface of a newly poured concrete floor, once dry, is often rough, uneven, and provides a dull appearance. Furthermore, when left in this unfinished state, the concrete will inherently produce dust particles from the constant scuffing, whether it is from foot traffic or wheeled traffic that can build over time and become a nuisance to those who work and/or live in these environments. It is well known to first grind the concrete surface and then coat the surface with a sealant to smooth the concrete, to make it aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and to help reduce dust particles.

In the grinding process, commonly used grinding machines usually have a planetary or direct drive belt and gear drive systems containing a plurality of circular drive plates mounted to gears on a deck with removable abrasive pads attached to each drive plate.

Wood sanding machines are similarly built but are modified accordingly to sand wood floors. Polishing machines are also similarly built but are further modified to polish floor surfaces. Cleaning machines similar are adapted to have discs or brushes that clean the surface. The above similar machines may also be referred to as grinding, honing, abrasive or abrading machines, or polishing and cleaning machines. These types of machines can also be referred to as an apparatus for treating a surface, for example, a floor. The term “treating a surface” as used herein can mean either cleaning, abrading, sanding, scrubbing, grinding, polishing, or honing a surface. These polishing and cleaning machines may typically be electric walk along machines where an operator stands behind the machine and pushes it along at a certain pace such that the deck sufficiently grinds, abrades, hones, polishes and or cleans the floor surface. These machines all have usable discs or brushes that will be generically referred to as resurfacing discs.

While walk along configurations and ride-on configurations have both been used, they both generally cannot be used to grind or sand close to an edge of the floor surface where a wall, molding or shelf stands extend vertically upward. As a result, machines specifically have been developed to treat the surfaces next to any vertical wall or unit. These units are commonly referred to as edger resurfacing machines, floor edger machines, or just edger machines and are usually smaller and more maneuverable than a polishing and cleaning machine. Presently known constructions for edger machines pose several problems. An edger machine that has a single disc produces a torque on the entire machine which the operator must continually resist. This torque fatigues the operator and makes it harder for the operator to control the machine. In addition, the exposed edge of the disc may engage and gouge the wall or side molding if the operator does not adequately control the machine. Some of these machines are unable to reach under cabinets to reach “toe-kick” spaces. Furthermore, some of these machines are hard to maneuver because of inadequate wheel control.

What is needed is an edger resurfacing machine that reduces or eliminates the torque on the operator and provides a safeguard to prevent the disc from gouging any wall or side molding and provides for improved control and usability.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An edger machine for treating a floor and other surfaces includes a housing with a motor and a deck. The motor has a drive shaft extending into an upper deck section of the deck. A pulley is positioned forward of the drive shaft, and a drive belt connects the drive shaft to the pulley. The pulley is constructed to mount a resurfacing disc in a lower deck section of the deck. A pair of guide wheels is mounted on an upper surface of the lower deck section adjacent the upper deck section. The guide wheels are rotatable about a vertical axis and positioned such that the wheels can roll against a vertical surface.

Preferably, the edger machine has the guide wheels mounted for linear adjustment between a fore and aft position. In one embodiment, the guide wheels are mounted on a bracket that is slidably mounted with respect to the deck. The upper deck extends more than 11 inches forward of the drive shaft and has a low profile upper surface set lower than 3.06 inches high.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an edger machine has a deck with least one resurfacing disc and motor operably mounted thereto. The deck has an upper deck section housing a drive shaft of a motor, a pulley positioned forward of the drive shaft, and a drive belt connecting the drive shaft to the pulley. The pulley is constructed to mount a resurfacing disc in a lower deck section of the deck. The lower deck section is positioned below a distal forward position of the upper deck section and has a rear wall forwardly positioned from a rear wall of the upper section. The rear wall of the lower section has a vacuum exit and a vacuum duct extending rearwardly therefrom. Preferably, the vacuum duct passes through the upper deck section and has an exit port at the rear wall of the upper deck section. The vacuum exit is positioned in the lateral center of the rear wall of the lower section.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an edger machine for treating a generally horizontal surface has a housing mounting a motor, deck, and drive system for mounting resurfacing discs. A main frame is mounted to the housing and travel wheels and a castor frame assembly pivotably mounts to the main frame for moving between a stored position and a surface engaging position. The castor frame assembly has a subframe pivotably and adjustable mounted thereto. A castor wheel is mounted to the subframe such that the castor wheel is pivotable with respect to the castor frame assembly and the subframe is angularly adjustable on the castor frame assembly to adjust the axis of rotation of the castor wheel to be perpendicular to the generally horizontal surface.

Preferably, the castor frame assembly is a first plate member and the subframe has a second plate member hinged to the first plate member. The second plate is adjustable with respect to the first plate member via a turn screw which adjusts the spacing of the two plates away from the hinge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a floor edger machine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of the housing shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the deck and guide wheels;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 shown in FIG. 2 showing the interior of the upper deck section;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view and partially sectioned view illustrating the vacuum porting through the lower and upper deck sections;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary and partially sectioned view illustrating the guide wheels;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view illustrating the rear castor wheels in a usable position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational fragmentary view illustrating the rear castor wheels in the stored position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rear castor wheels in one adjusted position; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating the rear castor wheels in a second adjusted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, an edger machine 10 also commonly referred to an edger resurfacing machine or floor edger machine has a main frame 12 with travel wheels 14, and a pair of rear swivable castor wheels 15. A rear handle 16 is mountable to the main frame between a stored position (shown) and a lower inclined usable position. The main frame 12 is pivotably connected at its front end 18 to housing 21 at pivot pins 19. The housing 21 includes motor 22 and deck 20. The deck 20 has a center swivable castor wheel 17 mounted at it rear side and motor 22 mounted at it top side and two rotatable and laterally spaced polishing, grinder, sander or other cleaning discs or brushes 24 hereinafter referred to as resurfacing discs 24 at its underside or lower deck section 28 within peripheral skirt 30. The deck 20 also has an upper section 26 mounted above the lower deck section 28. The front edge 32 of the skirt 30 has a notch or window 34 that substantially extends across the front edge 32. A plastic strip guard 36 is mounted at the front of the lower deck above the notch 34.

As shown generally in FIG. 2, the motor 22 is mounted to the deck 20 through a ring collar 37 and pin 38 connection in a fashion as described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/361,106 entitled Floor Edger and Grinder Device and is incorporated herein by reference This mount allows the deck 20 to pivot with respect to the motor 22 for adjustably position the edger against a wall or other vertical surface and place the handle later angle at a desired position for the operator.

The motor 22 has a drive shaft 40 as shown in FIG. 3 that extends down into the upper deck section 26. A first combination pulley and gear wheel 42 is rotatably mounted on the deck with its axis of rotation 44 coinciding with the axis of rotation 46 of drive shaft 40. A second combination pulley and gear wheel 50 is rotatably mounted to the deck with its axis of rotation 48 parallel to axis 44 with the complementary pulley and gear wheels 42 and 50 engage each other such that each combination pulley and gear wheel 42 and 50 will rotate in opposite directions. The drive pulley section 52 of each combination pulley and gear wheel 34 and 36 engage a respective belt 54 that engage a respective pulley 56 mounted above the discs 24 such that the respective two discs 24 rotate in opposite directions. The discs 24 are conventionally mounted to the pulleys 56 through the plate 58 that separates the upper deck section 26 from the lower deck section 28.

A shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the notch 34 in skirt 30 extends laterally a sufficient distance to be directly in front of each axis of rotation 57 of the respective laterally spaced discs 24 such that the front peripheral section 60 of each disc intrudes into the notch but does not extend in front of the guard skirt 36. In this manner, the discs can approach a floor edge but the skirt 36 provides a protective guard against the grinder discs from hitting or marring a vertical wall at the edge of the floor.

The upper deck section 26 surrounds the gear sections 38 of each combination pulley and gear wheel 34 and 36 to provide protective shielding and protect the gear and pulley wheels 42 and 50 from dust created by the discs 24. The protective upper deck 26 also greatly prolongs the effective life of any lubrication applied to the gear and pulley wheels 42 and 50. The plate 58 is mounted to the underside of upper deck section 26 to cover the belts 54 and the pulleys 56 and protect them from the dust created by the discs 24.

As can be seen from the drawing, the upper deck and rear deck are stacked to provide a low profile. The vertical height of deck section is under 3.06 inches and as deep as 11.3 inches to enhances the usability of the machine to reach under toe-kick space typical with standard cabinets, work tables, refrigeration units, display stands and shelving and surfaces. Also, the vacuum mountings and guide wheels mountings as explained are mounted in a fashion that does not increase the height of the deck.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a vacuum port 62 is mounted through the rear portion 64 of peripheral skirt 28. The port is near a center line of the deck and is connected to a duct 65 that is mounted below plate 58 till a rear portion of upper deck where the duct 65 extends into the upper deck and then connected to a rear vacuum exit nozzle 66 that allows a conventional connection to a vacuum source. In this fashion, this vacuum ducting eliminates any interference caused by attached vacuum hoses that were mounted to the front portion of the deck when the deck needs to reach under overhangs. The nozzle exit 66 is also closer to the operator thereby providing easy access for removal and attachment of any vacuum hose. Furthermore, the position of the port 62 at the rear of the skirt allows for better air flow from the front notch 34, over the discs located in the lower deck section and out through the exit at the rear of the lower deck. This provides for efficient moving of the airborne dust created during grinding or sanding applications.

Referring now to FIG. 5, guide wheels 70 are mounted to plate 58 above the lower deck section 28 but laterally beside the upper deck section 26 so as not to extend above the upper deck section 26. The guide wheels 70 are mounted to roll about a vertical axis 68. The wheels are linearly adjustable forward and backward to adjust the distance that the skirt 36 will be from any vertical surface such as a wall or cabinet. The linear adjustment is accomplished by having the guide wheel mounted on a bracket 72. The bracket 72 is mounted on two shoulder bolts 74 which are slidably mounted through linear bearings 76 on a flange 78 affixed to the deck 20. The shoulder bolts are biased by compression springs 79 exerting the enlarged heads 75 of the shoulder bolts to the retracted or rear position. A thumb screw 80 has a threaded shaft 82 that is threadably engaged through a threaded aperture 84 in flange 78 to abut the bracket 72 and move it forward against the bias of the springs 79. The thumb screw is capable of infinitely small adjustments so that the guide wheels 70 can be precisely moved to its desired forward positions. In other words, infinite adjustment within a range of motion is achieved for the guide wheel.

As best shown is FIGS. 6-9, the larger set of travel wheels 14 are used to move the edger machine. The rear castor wheels 15 are on a pivotable castor frame assembly 90 that is connected through pivot points 92. As shown in FIG. 7, the castor frame assembly 90 can be pivoted upward to a stored position and maintained in the lifted position by pull pins 94 intruding in apertures (not shown) in frame 12 to abut against a shoulder 96 of the castor frame assembly to lift the castor wheels 15 out of the way. The wheels 14 are only for transport of the floor edger. The castor frame assembly 90 can be pivoted downwardly by releasing quick pull pins 92 and letting the subassembly pivot downwardly to a usable position as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and locked in the usable position by pull pins 94 mounted through both the aperture in frame 12 and apertures 98 in castor frame assembly 90.

When in the usable position, the castor wheels 15 are positioned below the travel wheels 14, such that travel wheels are lifted up off the floor surface and do not interfere with the maneuverability of the machine. The castor frame assembly has first plate 100 that is locked in place by pull pins 94. An adjustable subframe or second plate 102 is hinged to the first plate 100 at pivot 104 to pivot with respect to the first plate. Because the castor wheels are mounted to the adjustable second plate, the pivotable adjustment of the second plate adjusts the vertical swivel axis 106 of the swiveling castors.

The adjustment is made through a shoulder bolt 108 connected to the second plate 102 and being slidably mounted through the first plate 100 through a linear bearing (not shown) but having the same construction a linear bearing 76. A compression spring 109 biases the second plate upward. A thumb screw 110 has a threaded shaft section 112 that is threadably engaged to a threaded aperture 114 to abut the second plate 102 and pivot it downward against the bias of the spring 109. The thumb screw is capable of infinitely small adjustments so that the castor wheels swivel axis 106 can be precisely moved to its desired vertical position. The uppermost position of the second plate is shown in FIG. 8 while the lower most position is shown in FIG. 9. Infinite adjustment within the range of motion shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is achieved for the castor wheels. A bubble level device 116 is attached to the second plate to show the operator when a parallel to floor condition has been achieved with the second plate and thus a perpendicular to floor swivel axis for the castors.

In this fashion, any deviation of the swivel axis from the vertical can be eliminated in spite of wear of the discs or use of discs with different thicknesses that can change the height of the deck 20. This elimination allows for better free swivel operation of the castors and eliminates any axis that is not perpendicular that can cause a resistance in swiveling in a direction that requires the castor to lift the frame resting on it in order to reach that direction.

In this manner, a durable floor and other surface edger resurfacing machine provides ease of operability, ease of movement, durability and protection against undesired marring of vertical walls in a package that is widely usable for reaching under cuts and toe-kick and overhang spaces with improved vacuum geometry.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

The embodiments in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An edger machine for treating a floor and other surfaces comprising: a housing; a motor mounted to said housing and having a drive shaft; said housing having a deck with an upper deck section housing said drive shaft, a pulley positioned forward of said drive shaft, and a drive belt connecting said drive shaft to said pulley; said pulley constructed to mount a resurfacing disc in a lower deck section of said deck; a pair of guide wheels mounted on an upper surface of said lower deck section adjacent said upper deck section; and said guide wheels rotatable about a vertical axis and positioned such that said wheels can roll against a vertical surface.
 2. An edger machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said guide wheels being mounted for linear adjustment between a fore and aft position.
 3. An edger machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said guide wheels mounted on a bracket that is slidably mounted with respect to said deck.
 4. An edger machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said upper deck extending more than 11 inches forward of said drive shaft and having an upper surface set lower than 3.06 inches high.
 5. An edger machine comprising: a deck with least one resurfacing disc and motor operably mounted thereto; said deck having an upper deck section housing a drive shaft of a motor, a pulley positioned forward of said drive shaft, and a drive belt connecting said drive shaft to said pulley; said pulley constructed to mount a resurfacing disc in a lower deck section of said deck; said lower deck section positioned below a distal forward position of said upper deck section and having a rear wall forwardly positioned from a rear wall of said upper section; and said rear wall of said lower section having a vacuum exit and a vacuum duct extending rearwardly therefrom.
 6. An edger machine as defined in claim 4 further comprising: said vacuum duct passing through said upper deck section and having an exit port at said rear wall of said upper deck section.
 7. An edger machine as defined in claim 6 further comprising: said vacuum exit being positioned in the lateral center of said rear wall of said lower section.
 8. An edger machine for treating a generally horizontal surface comprising: a housing mounting a motor, deck, and drive system for mounting resurfacing discs; a main frame mounted to said housing and travel wheels; a castor frame assembly pivotably mount to said main frame for moving said castor frame assembly between a stored position and a surface engaging position; said castor frame assembly having a subframe pivotably adjustable thereto for adjusting said subframe with respect thereto; a castor wheel is mounted to said subframe such that said castor wheel is pivotable with respect to said castor frame assembly and said subframe is angularly adjustable on said castor frame assembly to adjust the axis of rotation of said castor wheel to be perpendicular to said generally horizontal surface.
 9. An edger machine as defined in claim 8 further comprising: said castor frame assembly being a first plate member; said subframe having a second plate member hinged to said first plate member; and said second plate being adjustable with respect to said first plate member via a turn screw which adjusts the spacing of the two plates away from the hinge. 